College Cost BCS: National Championship

Copyright Allstate BCS National Championship

While many college football fans yawn at this match-up (Didn’t this already happen? And didn’t LSU already beat Alabama?), it’s one you shouldn’t miss in the College Cost series: Neither team has posted great results in any of our considering factors. LSU may approach this as a shoe-in, since they came out on top before, but there are different rules in the eduwonk house.

1st Quarter: Football Operating Budget

Both football powerhouses earn huge surpluses ($45 million-plus) for their respective athletic budgets, which earns them quick and effortless field goals. It’s a shame those extra dollars aren’t diverted, at least in part, to need-based financial aid for students who might be out-priced and couldn’t otherwise attend these flagship institutions.

LSU 3 – Alabama 3

2nd Quarter: Percent Change in Tuition

The Louisiana Superdome continues to rumble, as ‘Bama fans are looking to redeem themselves after their regular season loss to the Tigers. Too bad (for both teams) we’re talking college tuition numbers. Again, average tuition increase for public, four-year universities is 7.9 percent; the current rate of inflation is 3.4 percent. Neither team scores bragging rights in this quarter; they both report tuition increases that are higher than not only both of these benchmarks, but also all other tuition increases reported by teams participating in this series (10.1 percent for LSU and 12.9 percent for Alabama). It’s a scoreless quarter, and a sad one at that.

LSU 3 – Alabama 3

3rd Quarter: Net Price

Halftime afforded the teams some re-grouping and the fans some re-charging, and crowds are loud – to say the least. ‘Bama has a chip on their shoulder; LSU wants to re-gain the coveted BCS championship title. But like in quarters past, both teams flounder when it comes to college costs. What do you think the average net price is for a student wanting to attend one of these SEC universities? Remember, the average is $9,810. And if you guessed below it, you’d be wrong. Both teams’ kickers choke under the pressure mounting in New Orleans: ‘Bama reports a net price of $16,568, and while LSU does a bit better with $10,154, it’s just a sliver short of the goal post.

LSU 3 – Alabama 3

4th Quarter: Debt-to-Credential Ratio

That leaves a head-to-head match-up on the institutions’ debt-to-credential ratios. Only one team can score here, so either the Crimson Tide or the Tigers will leave with the title; no opportunities for OT here. The debt-to-credential ratio determines the average amount of debt that a graduate from that institution leaves with; low ratios show general affordability and strong graduation rates. The Tigers remember why they’re there – thanks to an unbeaten season and No. 1 ranking in the BCS – and run all over the Crimson Tide into the end zone with a debt-to-credential ratio of $9,931; that’s about $12,000 less than Alabama’s ratio.

While the Tigers remind us once again who’s boss, they shouldn’t be doing any celebratory dances on the field. This match-up was more about the lesser of two evils than it was a fair university with affordable tuition and sufficient financial aid. Tuition increases are up to four times the rate of inflation, while football surpluses of $45 million-plus only serve athletics. Misplaced priorities?

Final score: LSU 10 – Alabama 3

For complete details on the methodology, see our introductory post here. For the rest of the series, including the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange bowl games, see here.